Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-09-20

To the editor of The alexandria Gazette:

10 the edit0r OF The alexandria Gazette:
In his holiness Mr.. Mason says the Farm.
ers' Club. Individually and collectively, do
not care continental who "Sam Hill" is,
aud advises his friends to put paddock on
the mouth Of him and his liz. May 1 not
retort by advising the Farmers Club here
after TO be cautious in following the lead of
Mr.. III. and his iik, who, by their inordinate
desire for notoriety aud leadership, are ex-
ceedipgly liable to mislead? Now, as to
the question at issue. which Mr.. NJ. fairly
lodged, | will ask if information On this
debt question was really the thing sought.
Could not every member of the club with
Tho greatest ease have learned all about it
without the formGlity Of preamble and req
olution asking for the appointment OF
committee of Investigation ard especially,
could not Mr.. II. have so obtained informa-
ton, being intimately acquainted with oil
our county officials, and particularly those
worthy gentlemen, the County Judge and
Commouweath's Attorney. From these at
word he could have gotten all needed in
formation Oh the subject.
1.-THE Farmers Club proposes to resolve
itself into an investigating committee or d
board of public censor7, to look into the acts
of our public officials, why have they not
| long ago investigated the lavish and useless
expenditure of county funds az in the case
oflhe new county Jail and so.called improve
monts upon the court house; also in the
building of bridge near their own homes,
as useless as the fifth wheel to wagon
and TO enlarge upon it, also into the unfor-
tunate failure OF the bondholders, connie
sioners, and the legislative committee to
| - loht rnaatinpc Nhu hlnQiISQ
these questions contain no electricity to be
let of in brilliant coruscatiops by eloquent
bloody shirt orators, aud Numbered forth by
the republican press.
reformation sought! Why Mr.. Mason
seems to know all about it, and berates me
for my ignorance, or wilful misrepresenta
ton of it, in ntimating as he says thst the
debt was incurred to suppress the John
Brown raid, which did not. Why he knows
so much aboutit, he is prepared to write re-
view of the whole question and only de-
clnes to do so in his late article. l again
ask what practical effect could result from
their proposed investigation, or what power
| has the club over the question Is not the
logic of their action this: "These PREACHER
Qua ex-rebel ctIicela may allow this war
debt as an entering wedge, and we will take
this method to publish cur protest to the
country. Our proceedings are always printed
and read throughout the land, and we will
| anticipate their action, and fire the pubic
mind we can at least make some political
capital of it," I had not the least reference
TO the rights of the club or its individual
members, or any other person, to invesi-
gate and Inquire into any and all mat
tiers, but aimed to show the falseness
Of this prelence in this direction.
| will here say that l do not believe the very
worthy gentlemen, members of this club, nor
even Mr.. Masop, really meant what their action
in the case implied but that The logical sequence
| is as have stated | don't think any fair-mnde1
| or intelligent person can deny
| will close by saying that the history of this
debt is this: The Legislature of 1S6O-'G1 at an
early day in its session proceeded to devise some
means OF defence against the danger menacing
the people, as developed by the John Brown RAID,
which resulted in the adoption OF 4 bill authoriz-
| ing the several counties, through their courts to
borrow money to arm their militia. Our County
| Court at its February term made an order sum-
moning the magistrates Of the county to meet at
| tho March term to take action in tho case. The
justiceJ met accordingly, and By an almost unan-
| mous vote determined to borrow certain amount,
and to this end appointed three commissioners,
viz Messrs. S. It. Stuart, j. c. Gunnell and NJ d.
Ball. These commissioners borrowed in the
name Of the county of Fairfax, and executed their
| bonds for the same-$400 from Mr.. John A. Mar
shall and 5000 from Mr.. Sanford Taylor, and
| these constitute tho debt in question. This was
| several months before the State seeded.
| Another word. selected as my nom dc plume
q name extensively qno;cd in the North, and
which doubtless represents mythical character
who rs 4 by-wood. is largely sworn by.
repeat, think the action of tho Farmcfs'
Club was cfcious and out of taste.
GAM HILL